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Sex offender numbers up
THE number of sex offenders under supervision in South Yorkshire has edged up to 861, according to latest figures.
As of March 31 there were 305 registered sex offenders in Sheffield, 185 in Rotherham, 128 in Barnsley and 243 in Doncaster.
A total of 29 sex offenders and violent criminals in South Yorkshire were returned to prison last year after breaching of licences.
One of them was one of the country's so-called 'critical few' – assessed as having the highest risk of harming the public and under the strictest monitoring.
Freed violent criminals and sex offenders who "pose a risk of serious harm" are monitored under the so-called Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements or MAPPA.
They receive one of three levels of supervision – level one is management by the police, probation service or other agencies; level two is for high or very high risk offenders supervised by more than one agency; and level three are those 'critical few' under the strictest monitoring by panels of experts.
A total of 861 sex offenders were under MAPPA arrangements in South Yorkshire on March 31, up five on the previous year. Of these, 14 sex offenders and 15 violent offenders were returned to prison for breaching their licences in 2008/09.
Another 16 sex offenders who had a registration requirement were either cautioned or convicted of failing to register.
One dangerous offender under level two supervision was charged with a serious sexual or violent offence.
South Yorkshire Chief Probation Officer Roz Brown said: "Through the proactive management of offenders we have been successful in reducing the risk of harm to the public whilst the robust enforcement of licence conditions and orders has reduced the risk of reoffending."
Det Supt Adrian Teague, South Yorkshire Police's lead on Intelligence and Public Protection, said: "We take this responsibility extremely seriously and have invested in MAPPA to ensure trained and skilled resources are devoted to this sensitive and complex area of policing."
But concerns were raised that the increase in supervised sex offenders is putting extra pressures on police.
David Ruffley, the Shadow Policing Minister, said: "There will be pressure on police time to keep an eye on these offenders in local communities."
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Weather for Sheffield
Wednesday 23 May 2012
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